Strawberry Rhurbab Hand Pies

June 22, 2011

Nothing says summer than fresh fruit and I have a perfect summer dessert that is just waiting to be put into those hands. Sweet strawberry and rhubarb filling all wrapped inside delicate homemade pie dough and baked to perfection. Crisp, sweet and the ultimate backyard treat!

I wish I had something really clever to say about these pies but I will instead give you a few of my favorites lines about the nature of pies from none other than Ms. Smitten Kitchen herself.

“Do you have a favorite pie? I always think of pies falling in two categories, the prom queens, the blue ribbon prize winners, the ones that the president can’t keep out of his thoughts, and the rest of them. In the latter category there are the soggy bottoms, the overly-gelled fillings, the mortarboard crusts, the treacly sweet and those flawlessly latticed, magazine-ready specimen that turn out to have [insert your least favorite pie filling here] under their pretty lids.”

“I love strawberry-rhubarb pie, in spite of or perhaps because of its old-timey charm; at their best, cooked strawberries taste like cotton candy and rhubarb is the perfect almost citrusy-sour contrast.”

Is she right or is she right? When I really sat down and thought about it, I typically tend to make a super delicious but not so good looking pie or either a drop dead gorgeous pie with a not so good filling. Well that was my past and now I am happily looking to the future seeing my new creation Strawberry and Rhubarb hand pies that are full of flavor, about the easiest pie you will ever make and perfect, perfect for day our in the sun. I am seeing these hand pies making a nice little appearance at our annual Fourth of July party here in a few weeks. What do you think?

This was my first time to really cook with Rhubarb. The flavor is so tart and citrusy and now I know why it pairs so well with the sweetness of strawberries. I always wondered why people put the two together and now I get it! We all know that I like my store- bought pie dough but I was making these for my friend Christina’s surprise birthday party a few weeks ago and I wouldn’t settle for anything but the best. I rolled up my sleeves and dug into my grandmother’s homemade pie dough recipe. With flour everywhere and my heart racing I attempted her pie dough yet again and once again it turned out just perfect- although never ever as good as when she does it. Her recipe is easy and a no fail way to make the ultimate homemade pie dough.

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Strawberry and Rhubarb Miniature Pies

Ingredients:

Filling:

3 ounces of strawberries, sliced

3 ounces of rhubarb, diced

1 TBSP cornstarch

zest of 1 orange

2 TBSP of orange juice

2 TBSP fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup sugar

pinch of salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Pie Crust:

2 1/4 cups AP Flour

1/4 stp salt

1/4 cup butter, cold and cut into 1 inch cubes

4 TBSP sugar

1/4 cup shortening, cold

3 TBSP ice water

2 TBSP orange juice

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients for the filling in a small saucepan and heat on medium low until it reaches a slow boil. Reduce heat to low and sit, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes. Set aside

Combine the flour, salt and sugar in a large mixing bow. Cut in the chilled butter and shortening until it resembles coarse meal or small peas. Drizzle with ice cold water and orange juice and using a fork blend until all combined. Knead the dough lightly and shape dough into a disk. Divide dough in half.

Roll the first half out to 1/8 inch thick and using a 2 1/4 inch biscuit cutter with fluted edges cut out as many circles as you can. Now you can either use one circle per hand pie as I did in the pictures above or you can use two circles per pie. If you are using one circle then just place the 1/2 -1 tsp of filling into the center of the circle and fold over in a moon shape, crimping the edges to seal the dough. Or if using two dough circles, place the filling in the middle of the first circle and top it with the second circle. Crimping the edges to seal the dough. Brush with 1 TBSP of cream and 1 egg yolk. Cut a small slit in the top of each pie and place in the freezer for 10 minutes. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until the tops are nice and golden brown.

Look at the bayou babe making rhubarb hand pies! I.love.it! If only we had access to this wonderful northern delicacy growing up, huh? I am a rhubarb fiend since giving it a try for the first time. I love that you have taken this wonderful little southern delicacy….hand pies….and stuffed it full of delicious rhubarb and strawberries. Great job! I’m going to share this with my “yankee” family. They are going to love you like I do. Thank you!

I’m getting crazy with all these rhubarb recipes going around–I’ve NEVER tried rhubarb, but I’m dying to! This is definitely one of the first things I’ll try if we decide to buy it…you can’t go wrong with pie

Oh you must try the rhubarb. It is so easy to cook with. IT looks a little funny but you just chopped it up like you would any fruit and then you just go with it. Roast it, grill it (if left whole) or make a filling like i did. the possibilities are endless!

I love hand pies. So southern and so good! These are perfect for the summer. I have a bunch of peaches on hand=- maybe I could mix things up a bit and do peach and strawberry? What do you think? ya or na?

YOU BET I WILL PRINT IT!
You are killing my diet, so I am saving the recipes.
What beautiful photographs.
Do you take the photos yourself, or do you have a helper?
A great summer recipe these little hand pies.
How does a person put their photo on the right side of your blog on comments?
I am addicted to your blog now,
Jane

Oh my goodness… these look absolutely amazing! I love that they’re individual… if it was a pie I would be tempted to cut a huuuge slice.. but I have more self control it’s already portioned. I love warm pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

I’ve never cooked rhurbab too and I should put one in my trolley next time. Try your chicken enchiladas a few days ago with the ingredients I could get in Australia. It tasted wonderful and it was gone before I could take a picture of it. I like the taste of the coriander and green capsicum. Thanks for sharing.

I think these would be a great idea for the 4th! Perfect for packing up and the color is gorgeous and so fitting for red, white and blue! I’ve also not used rhubarb before but always hear of this combination. I do believe you have inspired me to try this out!

Before I even start talking about this recipe…Let’s start off by talking about your incredible photos. Girl, you have got it down to a science. This recipe is pure awesome. I would every single one of these by myself!!!

I LOVE hand pies… discovered them only a few years ago, and I have only made apple hand pies… This looks and sounds so yummy! Such a classic combination with the strawberry & rhubarb! Thanks for sharing

Let’s Cook

Why do I cook? Because an empty pan is a blank canvas. Because I can show my love, share my passion and create something out of nothing! Its my way of adding flavor to my life and being salt to this world! Read More..